Inger Andersen, the Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), has emphasized the importance of stronger multilateralism in addressing environmental challenges, as highlighted in a media briefing today. The upcoming sixth UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-6), also known as UNEA-6, aims to drive united, inclusive, and multilateral action to tackle all aspects of the triple planetary crisis as a single, interconnected challenge.
Andersen stressed that UNEA-6 doesn’t promise immediate solutions to global problems but will serve as a unifying platform for nations to collectively address environmental challenges. The event, scheduled from February 26th to March 1st in Nairobi, anticipates the participation of over 70 ministers and approximately 3,000 delegates from different parts of the world.
UNEA-6 aims to focus attention and efforts on key solutions to the triple planetary crisis, guiding the work of UNEP during this critical period for both people and the planet. The event will convene ministers, intergovernmental organizations, the wider UN system, civil society groups, the scientific community, and the private sector to shape global environmental policy.
In addition to core resolutions, a Youth Environment Assembly will be convened, with leadership dialogues on finance, science, data, and digitalization, alongside a day dedicated to bringing together the many multilateral environmental agreements that global governments have signed up to, to create united and amplified action.
Kenya’s strong commitment to achieving a 30% tree cover by 2032 was also emphasized at the briefing by Soipan Tuya, the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry of Kenya. This ambitious goal includes planting 15 billion trees, with 30% of them being fruit and fodder species to enhance the country’s food and nutritional security, as well as household incomes. To support this initiative, all the over 6,000 delegates expected to attend UNEA-6 in Nairobi will be requested to participate in tree-planting activities at designated sites.
The event will also feature a keynote address by His Excellency President Dr. William Ruto of Kenya, who will deliver the UNEA-6 National and Welcoming Statement. Throughout the entirety of UNEA-6, attendees will have the opportunity to experience a showcase highlighting Kenya’s vibrant cultural heritage, its potential for climate action, and its diverse tourist attractions.
UNEA-6 will be an intense week of activities including bilateral meetings and hundreds of side events, bringing together global leaders to address the pressing challenges of the triple planetary crisis.
